The Divine Gopi
Disappearance
of the divine gopi caused such anguish of separation, restivity and yearning
that life became unbearable for Shri Maharajji. Even a slight deflection in bhajan
and chintan was intolerably painful. His daily routine seemed to be
an impediment. Therefore, he took bhiksha from a couple of houses, ate
it hurriedly, immersed himself in the joy of Naam Japa and rasa of the Lord's divine play. When even begging
for food seemed burdensome, he would take bhiksha from six to seven houses in a
day, dry it up and stirring it in the pitcher's water, take a bit of it every day.
The body revolted against this manner of taking meals. Maharajji's spleen
enlarged, his liver began malfunctioning, and the body turned pale and feeble.
Weakness increased so much that it was tough for him to even walk a few steps.
But, this state did not affect his joyous mindset or devotional practice in any
way and his daily routine continued as before. However it was a coincidence
that news of his ailing state reached Shri Ratanlal ji Beri Wale, an emotional rasika. Usually, he lived in Nandgaon and he was the one who had got Nand
Bhavan repaired.
Shri Thakur ji, Nand Bhavan
Enthusiastically he would serve Nand Bhavan's Thakurji by
offering bhoga, singing devotional songs and celebrating festivals. When
Ratanlal ji listened to community singing his eyes would shed tears
incessantly. His acquaintance with Shri Maharajji had been short and distant.
Those days Shri Ratanlalji was staying in Nandgaon itself. One fine day during
his early morning walk, he was passing by the cave on a crude path when all of
a sudden he heard melodious waves of music emanating from an impassioned
throat:
' vasatu mano
mama madana-gopāle |
nava-rati-keli-vilāsa-parāvadhi-rādhā-surata-rasāle || '
(Lyrics
written by Prabhodananda Sarasvati)
which means:
“May my mind
dwell on Madan Gopala that enchanting cowherd boy who relishes the rasa of
Radha's sublime love, which extends to the highest limit of ever-new, playful
amorous pastimes.”
The Ancient Cave
Lala ji was
dumbfounded. A little later, he found the cave by taking a cue from the singing
voice. Peeping through the aperture he saw Shri Maharajji engrossed in singing padas.[1]
He bowed
before Shri Maharajji when the verses
came to an end and uttering, “ Radhe-Shyam,” left.
Radhe Jaya Jaya Madhava Dayite
This exercise
became a daily regime of his. In those days Shri Maharajji would sing the
devotional songs of 'Sangeet Madhav' and verses written by Shripad Sanatan
Goswami. Shri Prabodhanand Saraswati's, 'smaratu mano mam nirawadhi radham '
(depicting Shri Radha's adornment from head to toe),'vastu mano mam madan
gopale ' (describing Lord Krishna as a cowherd boy from head to toe),'shri
radhe jaya jaya madhava dayite '
('Radhe, all glories to You, all glories to You. You are very near and
dear to Lord Madhava,' a prayer by Srila Rupa Goswami))and Shri Roop
Sanatanji's ' jai jai sundar nandkumara ,'(describing the beauty of
Krishna, the darling son on Nanda) and 'vande viśvambhara-pada-kamalam,'
( 'I offer prayers to the lotus feet of Visvambhara, who cuts away the
defective consciousness of those who are influenced by Kali-yuga,' a lyric by
Radha Mohana Dasa)etc., were very dear to him. During his daily morning stroll
Shri Ratanlalji would stand outside the cave, listening to Shri Maharajji and
leave after saying, “Radha-Shyam' to him.
“ Brahmachar iji
you did not even inform me when your health deteriorated.” Shri Ratanlal ji
complained gently,
Hired a Bullock Cart
Shri Maharaj
remained silent and a cool mild smile spread across his face. In those days
there were no special means of transport. Shri Ratanlalji hired a bullock-cart,
made Shri Maharajji sit on it and came to Mathura with an attendant. He got
Shri Maharajji admitted into the Government Civil Hospital here.
The formality
of the so-called treatment started. Government hospitals are notorious and
known for their negligence. Besides, when the doctors saw Maharajji's appearance
and dress up and noticed his renunciatory nature of asceticism, they assumed
that he was some illiterate, begging, neglected sadhu. Therefpre why would they
be cautiously attentive in treating him. The doctors would come to fulfill the
formal routine of the hospital, see him, give medicines and go away. Some days
passed by in this manner. There was no improvement and his bodily weakness
escalated.
Shri Balkrishna Das ji Maharaj
Once three
doctors came to take a round at night. They walked up to the bed of Shri
Maharajji and examined his body. They were talking in English amongst
themselves. Feelings of neglect and contempt were apparent on their faces. They
could see no possibility of Shri Maharajji being cured and becoming healthy.
Ultimately they thought of injecting him with a poison with which either
Maharajji would be cured or that bed would be vacated with his death.
The doctors
asked him, Tell us Maharajji, where do
you live? Who all are there in your house? Why did you become a sadhu?”
Not giving an
answer to this set of questions Shri Maharajij began giving a discourse on God
in English. At first they were astonished at Maharajji use of the English
language. They had no inkling that an educated person was hidden in his guise.
Soon after, they were impressed by the content's weightage and listened to the
speech carefully. There was such an enchanting attraction in his voice that
they got lost in listening to it and forgot that they had come on a round. Now
the thoughts of neglect, disrespect and non-attendance disappeared from their
minds and were replaced by feelings of closeness and respect for that patient
who was a brilliant sermonizer.
A Doctor
New Delhi
One of the doctors who had been a civil surgeon there at that time,
unexpectedly met Shr Maharajji in Delhi, in 1975.The devotee where Maharajji
was staying was a close relation of this doctor sahab. The surgeon had got his
leg x-rayed and come. Looking at him, Shri Maharajji instantly recognized him.
Without introducing himself he got three tablets of codopyrin ground.
Making three
small packets he gave them to the surgeon and assured him, “ You will be fine
just by taking these doses of medicine.”
Truly
speaking, the surgeon recovered completely and came over the very next day.
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